Rare Primitive St Therese Retablo Folk Art Catholic Icon Tin Frame Opelousas LA For Sale

Wonderful primitive Catholic devotional folk art piece featuring Saint Thérèse (“The Little Flower”) in a deeply aged handmade retablo-style frame. This unique religious icon has a striking rustic presence with its weathered tin-covered wood construction, old patina, and distressed devotional image under glass.Antique primitive Catholic devotional icon featuring St. Therese of Lisieux (“The Little Flower”) housed in a handmade rustic frame with aged metal/tin covering and brass-tone inner trim. This piece has an incredible Southern folk art presence with authentic age, wear, and patina throughout.What makes this piece especially interesting is the faint handwritten inscription on the reverse that appears to read:“C.V. Tatman, Opelousas, LA”Research uncovered historical records for Cornelius V. Tatman of Opelousas, Louisiana (1886–1971), suggesting a possible connection to the original owner and Louisiana provenance of the piece. While the exact age and origin are unknown, it appears to be an early handmade devotional item with strong Louisiana Catholic folk art character. Opelousas is one of Louisiana’s oldest Catholic regions and adds an especially interesting historical element to this piece.The frame appears to be hand-constructed from wood with aged tin or metal cladding and retains a beautiful untouched primitive surface. A wonderful addition for collectors of santos, retablos, ex-votos, religious folk art, Southern devotional antiques, or primitive Americana décor.Features:
• Saint Thérèse devotional image
• Primitive handmade construction
• Tin-covered wood frame
• Retablo / folk art style
• Faint handwritten Louisiana notation on reverse
Handwritten Name of C.V. Tatman
• Opelousas, Louisiana provenance
• Rich aged patina and rustic character
• Ready for displayCondition:
Good antique/vintage as-found condition with heavy age-related wear consistent with primitive devotional pieces of this nature. Glass is solid and the frame has surface wear, oxidation, scratches, and imperfections throughout that add to its authentic character and charm. Please review all photos carefully as they are an important part of the description.This piece is being sold exactly as found and has not been cleaned or altered.Included in the photos is an obituary clipping for Cornelius V. Tatman of Opelousas, Louisiana, discovered during research of the handwritten inscription on the reverse. This is provided for historical reference only and is not a certificate of provenance.Opelousas Connection: Given the owner was born in 1886, they would have been a young adult during her canonization in 1925, which was a major event for the Catholic community in South Louisiana. It is highly likely they acquired this piece during the height of her devotion in the 1920s or 30s.Please ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them.📦 Returns Policy (No Returns / No Refunds) Please review all photos and read the full description carefully before purchasing. All items are sold as-is and no returns or refunds are accepted. Many of my items are vintage, pre-owned, or thrifted, and may show normal signs of age or wear. I do my best to describe and photograph each item accurately. That said, your satisfaction matters to me — if there is an issue due to a mistake in the listing or damage during shipping, please contact me and I will work with you to resolve it. By purchasing, you acknowledge and agree to this policy.Key search words: * Cornelius V. Tatman
* C.V. Tatman
* Opelousas Louisiana
* Opelousas LA
* Louisiana provenance
* Louisiana estate
* Louisiana Catholic art
* Louisiana folk art
* Cajun folk art
* Creole religious art
* Southern devotional art
* antique religious icon
* primitive saint art
* St Therese print
* Little Flower devotional
* antique retablo
* Catholic shrine art
* primitive framed icon
* tin clad frame
* antique santos style
* early devotional print
* folk Catholic devotional

---

---